Scarred ➵zauren

Chapter 18

*3 months later*

Zayn's POV

"Let me see it breadstick!" I laughed over a FaceTime call with Ryan. He was trying to hide a small temporary tattoo he'd put on without his grandma's knowledge.

"I can't cause what if Abuela comes in, or momma, I did not tell her either!"

"You're gonna be fine, they won't care silly," I assured him.

"Okay," Ryan agreed adamantly. He pulled up his sleeve and showed me a Batman tattoo.

"Woah, look at that, it's cool!"

"You think so? Mikey gave it to us at his birthday party," Ryan explained.

"That's a sweet prize. So you had fun at the party huh?"

"Yes but I wish you and momma could've been there, everybody brought their mommies and daddies, I only had Abuelo," Ryan frowned.

"I'm sorry buddy, we'll be together soon though. We miss you so much," I sighed, saddened by the look on his face.

"I miss you too, papa. And mommy. Where is mommy anyways?"

"She's sleeping, we did a lot of work on my legs today," I smiled at him. "I'll tell her you missed her when I see her in the morning, okay?"

"Okay. Are you tired too? Mommy sent Abuela a picture of you standing, I saw it. Good job papa, you are awesome," Ryan gave me a thumbs up.

"I'm a little tired, I'm really trying my best to get my legs moving. But, I really wanted to talk to you before going to bed. I'm glad I did."

"Me too," Ryan smiled.

"I'm gonna get going now okay breadstick? You have an amazing day, I love you."

"I love you lots papa, give momma a kiss for me okay?"

"I will buddy, goodnight." Ryan waved before I hung up.

I set down my phone on the small nightstand in my new dorm and relaxed against the couple pillows I had stacked up.

Within the last three months that had passed, the hospital believed I had made enough progress to transition back into independent living. I was now able to do lots of things on my own but my progress in walking again had sort of plateaued and it was frustrating and exhausting. It had also put a strain on Lauren and I's relationship. I was very hard on myself and I'd hit a point where I was pretty much coming to accept that I may never walk again and that made Lauren angry, which was understandable because I'd feel the same way if the roles were reversed.

Now that we were in the same dorm building, we usually spent every night together but this week, we were trying to give each other some space. I knew she wasn't asleep yet, in fact she'd been messaging me while I was speaking with Ryan, but I felt better letting him believe that things were okay and that we just weren't in the same room, which wasn't completely a lie.

Did I leave my flat iron over there?

I need it to fix my hair for a meeting tomorrow with your doctors

Are you ignoring me?

I'm not ignoring you, I was on the phone with Ryan. I'm not sure but I'm in bed, you're welcome to come check, you have the key?

Oh okay. Yeah, I'll go by now.

A few moments later I heard the key slide into the lock and the door opened. Letting in some light from the hallway.